Is Water Leaking From Air Conditioner Dangerous

When the air conditioner runs smoothly, it will make the house much more comfortable during the hot summer, and there is nothing to worry about. But what happens when the air conditioner is leaking? Is water leaking from the air conditioner harmful, or it is just irritating?

It is a common problem that most AC owners have experienced in their life. To be fair, a leaking air conditioner is not dangerous at all; rather it is frustrating for the owner. But, this depends on the place where you have it. If it is located in a place that will get wet, it can cause a lot of damage to your house. On the other hand, a coolant leak might be a problem for you and the environment. In either situation, it is important to fix the leak.

This article will discuss the potential danger a leaking air conditioner can pose and how we can fix the issue. So without further delay, let’s get the show on the road-

Why Is My Ac Leaking Water?

Water is a natural resource of the cooling process. There are two units in your air conditioner, one you will see outside and one inside. An evaporator coil in the indoor unit cools the warm air as it blows over. During the condensation process, the air cools, drips into a drain pan, and goes out of your room through a condensate drain line.

Due to this process, water leakage is a common problem. If the drain line gets clogged with debris or mold, this will lead to water leaking inside your house. Another cause is if the air filter gets dirty, it will result in water leakage in your air conditioner. That is why replacing the air filter regularly is important to keep your appliance at its best.

Replacing the air filter will increase the indoor air quality, increase energy efficiency, most importantly, it will length your air conditioner’s life span.

Is Water Leakage From The Air Conditioner Dangerous?

Generally, it doesn’t pose a threat at all. However, it would be best to make sure whether it’s water leakage or coolant leakage. An air conditioner leaking coolants like R-22 Freon can cause physical damages like dizziness and headache.

While your air conditioner is leaking water, it might not be a potential danger to you, but it might cause damage to your beloved house. The intensity of the damage would depend on where the water leak is, the type of leakage, and the type of air conditioner system you have installed. You might have to deal with molds and corrosion on the walls for that.

How To Know If My Air Conditioner Is Leaking Water?

There are some signs your air conditioner would show if there is any leakage, some of those include-

Continuous dripping water

Well, there is an easy way to find out if your air conditioner has any water leaks is if you see a never-ending puddle of water where the system is installed. Your AC might over condense the water on a hot summer day, especially when you do not have an updated HVAC system.

Sound Of Dripping Water

Another way you could find out whether your AC is leaking is if you hear the sound of continuous water dripping. But, you need to differentiate between the usual healthy air conditioner bubble sound and leakage drips.

If the sound becomes too irritating and frustrating to deal with, you need to check out the drain pan to work correctly.

Sound Of Running Water

If you hear the sound of running water, then your air conditioner is indicating that the condensation is not draining properly and the drain pan is overflowing with water. This overflow would lead to a leakage later on.

How Can a leaking air-conditioner be dangerous?

Although water leaking from the air conditioner doesn’t pose any threat, can it be dangerous in other ways? Well, the answer is ‘yes.’ It can. The leaking water from the AC unit could pose a hazardous situation to your house. So, let’s see how they impose a threat-

Appliance Damage And Fire Hazard

If you see water drips every day around your AC unit, then it means the insulation system around the pipes has worn off due to constant contact with a moist atmosphere. As we stated earlier, this could lead to corrosion, which could reduce the appliance lifespan, but most importantly, the worn-out parts are prone to fire outbreaks which could be a risk to your appliance and home.

Broken electric lines or pipes can be very dangerous to you as well as to the whole family. You can easily avert the situation by installing proper insulation and piping systems.

Structural Damage

The water leaking from your AC unit damages the drywall and will cause massive structural damage. In a worst-case scenario, the foundation is weakened by constant moist contact, resulting in the whole house collapsing.

Mold and Mildew

The most common after-effect of water leaking from an air conditioner is mold growth. Molds feed on moisture to survive. So, they start growing, and they won’t stop until you immediately address the problem and find a solution. Molds are very unpleasant to watch on your walls and floor; I know the feeling.

Apart from this, molds can also cause other problems like carpet rot which is very costly to fix. Rotted place of the walls or floors should be removed completely before replacing them with new ones. Otherwise, they will keep rotting again because of constant contact with a moist surface. If your home is damp, it’s like heaven for molds; they can create serious health problems such as respiratory disease, pneumonia, and other allergic issues.

High Utility Bills

Although the air conditioner doesn’t cost you much to operate, leakage can increase electric bills. If there is any leakage in your AC, it will send you signs to know there is a problem somewhere. Leaking refrigerants will make things worse for you.

The air conditioner will try hard to pull more energy and compress the available refrigerants to operate. This will force the AC to draw more power to meet the necessary temperature difference.

How To Stop Water Leakage From Ac

If you notice any water leakage in your AC system, fix it immediately to avert further damage. Though it doesn’t cause any serious problem, it can threaten your house. We have included some suggestions below that you can follow while dealing with leakage-

Shut your AC system

The best thing will be to shut down the AC if you see any water leakage in your AC. Do not operate until the problem is addressed and fixed. Check the evaporator coil before the maintenance arrives. Also, check for any coolant leak before going further.

Dry up any water leakage

Dry out immediately whenever you see water leaks around your air conditioner system. Water puddles will create mold and mildew. Use a dry vacuum to suck up the remaining water in the drain pan and on the floor. If you suspect mold growth in your house, hire professionals to eliminate it.

Change Air Filters

Always make sure the air filters are well maintained and functioning properly. Replacing the air filter regularly will increase the life span of your air conditioner. If you have children or pets at home, replace the filter after every 60 days or as soon as they get dirty.

Check For Ice

If you see any ice build-up on the outer unit, your AC is probably running out of Freon. Also, inspect the air handler and evaporator coil for ice build-up. Do not try to operate the air conditioner until the ice is removed.

Check For Installation Faults.

Your AC unit might be leaking due to any Installation issue. Make sure the drain pan is installed correctly and working fine. Also, check if the condensate drain is well-placed to drain all the water outside the house.

Clean The Condensate Pipe

As time goes by, the condensate pipe might get jammed with all kinds of debris ranging from dirt and dust, resulting in a clogged pipe. If you notice any water leaks, ensure that the condensate pipe is clear. If not, clear immediately to prevent backed-up water, leading to water leakage.

FAQ

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is safe to say that the leaking water from the air conditioner is not dangerous. The condensed water from an AC unit is pure; you can even use it to water the plants. But the leaking water can weaken the structure of your beloved house. Apart from that, coolants leak can be a matter you should worry about.